By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Progressive Liberal Party will not commit to leaving the Fiscal Responsibility Act in place if it returns to power, PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell indicated yesterday.
Robert Myers, a member of the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG), told Tribune Business on Wednesday the opposition should publicly affirm its intention to stick with the fiscal consolidation plan outlined in the 2018 Act whenever it is re-elected to government.
“Frankly, we need to be hearing more from the opposition that they’re committed to that plan also,” he said. “People would like to hear that. I’d like to hear the PLP saying the future is the Freedom of Information Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Integrity Commission Bill and all those other issues.” Although the integrity commission bill has been tabled in Parliament since 2017, the Minnis administration has given no indication that it will soon debate and pass the bill.
The Fiscal Responsibility Act establishes deficit and debt targets and safeguards to limit government spending.
Mr Mitchell yesterday called the legislation ill-conceived, adding: “The PLP has no obligation to confirm or deny any such thing in the face of a demand from an organization that is not credible. This organization is one of a group of Fred Smith affiliated organizations that engaged in sustained propaganda campaign of disinformation and FNM talking points in the last general election campaign. Try as they might they cannot wipe that stain of political bias from their organization. Those FNM talking points continue today.”
“Further, the public record with statements from both the leader and the deputy leader show the PLP’s position on the fiscal responsibility legislation. It is all show to please the foreign minders but can be dispensed with by the finance minister at the stroke of a pen.”
During debate on the bill last year, PLP Deputy Leader Chester Cooper said there is nothing in the Act that prevents the government from breaching its fiscal targets and approving new expenditure.
“The bill talks about doing many things without consequences for not doing so,” he said.
Mr Mitchell added: “Mr Myers himself has a credibility problem having confessed to cheating Bahamas Customs. A good place to start with fiscal responsibility might well be for each citizen to pay his or her taxes.”
In 2014 Mr Myers stepped down from the Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors following a valuation dispute with the customs department over a hybrid Porsche SUV he imported from the US.
Comments
TheMadHatter 5 years, 4 months ago
So Mitchell should have said "Not only will we comply with the Fiscal Resposibility Act, but we will also amend it to give it teeth and consequences for breeches; something this current government does not have the guts to do. They are clearly afraid of their own shadows."
truetruebahamian 5 years, 4 months ago
Oh Freddy Weddy! Say something that is constructive for once, please.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 4 months ago
At least he is being forthright and honest ........ he knows the nature of the PLP beast.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 4 months ago
My friend, you are one of the few in this country today who can read and write. Don't underestimate the power of the 'beast'. We are well on our way to having our first PM of Haitian ancestry.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 4 months ago
As the late Levi Gibson used to say: "Fred has a brain, but sadly it's a deviant one with no common sense."
OMG 5 years, 4 months ago
Fiscal responsibility is a joke with most governments, but Fred will say anything to get his free travel, expensive hotels and allowances back. Remember all the trips to China, first class, top hotels etc etc whilst poor Bahamians struggled to put food on the table or have electricity. Fiscal responsibility is paid for by the middle class and the cream is still fed to the politicians and their cronies.
Giordano 5 years, 4 months ago
Fredericka Mitchell's Acts while posting anywhere in the government should be audited including his?/her time in Immigration with so much overwhelmed evidence of corruption or wrongdoing found by this current administration upon coming into power,specifically and especially the public money she spents on deportation of Haitians immigrants and money reported to the national treasury by concept of Work Permits. Also all the overevaluated spent of Public Money while traveling abroad as Minister of Foreign Affairs with a huge delegation of selected friends and co-workers. Yes !. We the people,needs to hear,publicly, more about those acts of integrity,information,disclosure and so many others things.
moncurcool 5 years, 4 months ago
Should any other response be expected from the "all for me baby" crew? And they want to talk about they change as a party and want to run the government. No way!!!
The_Oracle 5 years, 4 months ago
No Surprise in his position, he forgets he is a servant of the people, and the people want accountability. Also attacking private citizens in the way you would attack your political cronies is dangerous ground. Ask Ingraham. Tread Carefully. You political mishaps and miscreants opted for the positions, Private citizens simply want decency and accountability from the elected. Would be nice for a change.
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